Getting Ahead of the E-Mails

For clarity’s sake I will note yet again that “Whatever” in the the context of this blog is used as “I write about whatever I want to write about here,” as opposed to the dismissive “Whatever,” that is what people get annoyed with. Either way, I don’t need to be informed about the existence of this poll and its results. I know. Trust me, I know.

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I’m not certain of the cognitive and conative distinctions between saying “WHATever” versus “whatEVER.” Or, in Valley Speak, “whatEVER?” with a tonal swoop at the end. Need to consult the paper by Mrs. William Gibson on the linguistics of the Canadain “eh?” Really, she did write such a paper.

I don’t understand how “trending”, “double down” and “perfect storm” failed to make the list. Those three make me want to reach out through my tv screen and throttle whichever offending commentator is opening his/her piehole.

Jonathan Vos Post: You should actually consult comedian Howard Mohr’s book (and/or PBS special) “How To Talk Minnesotan”, from the mid-’90s. Goes into great detail on the cases and proper pronunciation of “Whatever.” (Also “That’s different” and “You bet.”)

Really? (Yes that was deliberate) I can think of several much more annoying words ca. 2012. “Awesome” is overused (IMO), and don’t get me started on “so….”, as in, “I don’t want to go to the store, so….” The speaker never finishes the sentence!

Just recently heard the word (which I am not usually a fan of) employed by a three-and-a-half-year-old.
“Hey, do you want a baby brother or baby sister next month?”
*shrug* “Whatever.”
(IT WAS SO CUTE.)

In the future, newscasters will have little social prompters. Audience “members” will hit either a little 👍 or 👎 on their contemporary mobile device and the presenters, reporters, entertainers can bask in the instantly aggregated wave of love or hate from their lobotomized audiences. Extra ratings/views if the aggregated group-think is reinforced by showing the results to the sheep…er, I mean viewers.